Making A $30 Machete Priceless for All Your Survival Needs!

Machete Mods! Make a Cheap Machete Last years! | ON3 Jason Salyer. A machete is about the most useful tool to keep around the homestead. They also make excellent bushcraft and survival tools. Jason shows us a few mods he does to all of his machetes. This will make a cheap machete last for years and work much more effectively.
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[@SurvivalDispatch]

Machete or Axe? What is more useful in your neck of the woods?

[@Wastelandman7000]

Machete. Though the ax comes in a close second. Depending on what kind of machete you have it can be used to baton, as a shovel (cane knives and parang machetes especially) and use them two handed.

[@norho8129]

Billhook for the most of the time. Oldtimers here usually only had billhooks way before any machete and axe. Most of the stuff is really hard and knotty wood with thorns.

[@blueridgerealtor]

Machete

[@bobjones9727]

Machete. Preferably El Chete

[@musicteacher5757]

I'm in Florida. I'd hate to give up either one. Years ago, when I couldn't afford better self-defense in my home, I kept a machete next to my bed. God bless you and your family.

[@ivanrobb3900]

One thing my grandfather told me, sometimes the best tool is a cheaper more crude tool, that u just have to shine up a bit on your own.

[@SurvivalDispatch]

Your grandfather sounds wise

[@ivanrobb3900]

@@SurvivalDispatch He was a very wise man, a homesteader, hunter, Carpenter. So much knowledge. I am blessed to have had him. Cheers.

[@aaronbeach8929]

My grandfather used to be a mechanic for British Airways, he gave me his home made machete from his tool box. Very thick and heavy about 14 inches long. I said " why did u keep it in you're tool box though?" he said years ago back in the older days there was no real fences or security at airports especially in African nations, I needed it for self protection hence y its thick and heavy ". Its a real crude peice of kit just hope I'll never need it for his old reasons lol. Great video j3 respect from 🇬🇧👍😎💪

[@pgandy1]

Machetes are king in my country and I love them. The thin, light machetes are ideal for grass/brush cutting as they do the job and are less fatiguing. For heavier wood something heavier such as a thicker bladed machete is recommended. A couple of suggestions; keep the leg to which you are cutting back. If you are cutting to the left, the left leg should be rearward. Just a safety tip. The name skips me at the moment, but I doubt if you would know what I’m talking about anyway. So, get yourself a forked stick or comfortable length. When needed use in the offhand to stand grass up for easier cutting. It makes life easier. Lanyards are hit and miss. Some depend on them and others wouldn’t have one. I use them. A carryover from earlier days I suppose as I no longer climb while working. I never locked a machete to my hand, but used the lanyard in order to drop the machete when I needed to free up the hand and then with a flip of the wrist it was back and useable. As mentioned, a file would be faster than the stone. A file is the traditional sharpening device and often carried in the field along with the machete. A neat trick using sandpaper on the grip. I use tape, but still do aways with the seam. FWIW, technically the spine of a machete will not sharpen another machete. It will realign the edge, much like a butcher’s steel making it feel sharper. I use the trick on many of my knives. Chao from Costa Rica.

[@terryqueen3233]

I was a land surveyor for 21 years and I've got a lot to say about a machete but you said enough to cover it so I won't. Thanks for the video Jason

[@keithkilby2911]

Agree: 35 years here and still going.

[@terryqueen3233]

@@keithkilby2911 yeah we didn't have chainsaws or EDM whenever I started. It was a bush Axe and a machete and an old mountain Transit and a 100 ft steel chain and I still remember how to use them all although now I believe that bush ax would kick my butt, LOL. Do you remember the old steel chain, 66 ft long and it look like a chain to?

[@keithkilby2911]

@@terryqueen3233 Yes, Dad had one but I never used it. You would bend one of the links to adjust it. Back when I was 10/11 years old Dad used the 100 chain. You would do it up in Figure 8, then flip it to bring both sides together. I could do it but I wasn't that good. We had gone to lunch and left it stretched out, instead of spending the time to do it up, when we got back, the property owner, who thought they were doing us a favor, had rolled it up like you would a rope or water hose. Needless to say, it kinked and that was the end of the day. My first tools were the machete and the plumb bob: I still use both today. We have used a bush hook off and on but liked the flexibility of the machete, around here it was a good around tool: not too heavy but big enough to get the job done. We got our first EDM around 1983/1984, we were the first around here to get it. The local salesman, Terry Nutt, had come up to talk about this new instrument but didn't have one to show us yet. Dad asked him if it was like the one under the desk: yes, it was. Terry had a fit: if you knew Terry, you would say they named him right with the last name Nutt. Up till then, I was the back chain man, my instrument days started with the Topcon 2 with an HP-41, and I wrote my own programs with it.

[@terryqueen3233]

@@keithkilby2911 oh shit about that chain. I was real good with it I could do it up in no time flat and flipping it seems like something natural to do. I'm 72 now but I would bet any amount of money that I could do at the 100-foot chain in no time and flip it. It seems like to me it was in the 80s I don't remember exactly when when we got our first EDM I thought I was going to lose my job when we got that thing but they needed a mule to carry it so I volunteered. Yeah it was that heavy and that big I remember that well now just about everything is right on the instrument. The first instrument we used Was An Old Mountain Transit. It took me a little bit to get used to reading the Vernier. I was front chain and I learned to subtract in the beginning because it was only 100 ft chain with the first foot graduated and then we got the 101 ft chain and I love that one I didn't have to do any subtraction then but it still wasn't hard to subtract. Whatever the back chainman said you just went to the next lowest number and you had your measurement. Did you ever use hand signals for your numbers? That was pretty easy to learn also. I think the hardest thing for me to get used to was when you are looking through the instrument and you want the guy to go to your right you have to say left so after I got used to that and I quit surveying it took me the longest time to get used to knowing my right from a left. I would imagine since your dad was in the survey business also you got behind an instrument a lot sooner than I did. I hate to blow my own whistle but I was so good at being head chainman that all the party Chiefs in whatever company that I worked with wanted me as their head Chain man and I was also approached from the different companies in my hometown which was Gastonia North Carolina oh, wow I can't believe I said that I despise that town. That's where I started surveying I ended up out in Oregon and when I got back to North Carolina they didn't pay nowhere near like they did out west even for instrument man and especially for a party chief after that I got disgusted with surveying and kind of got out of it for a little while and trying to learn another type of job was kind of hard because I really loved surveying so of course I got back into it and took the low pay. Well it was real good talkin to another surveyor it's hard when most people don't understand what went on behind the scenes. If you're still surveying stick with it because I still think that it's one of the best fields to get into. I sure worked with some weird characters though I'll tell you that. Had you ever been shot at? We got pinned down one time so apparently the guy had a good bead on us because he was shooting between the party Chief and myself and all around us in the dirt. And then one time this little old lady came out and said that's not where the line goes it goes over here I said well ma'am I've done the surveys on both sides and this is where it puts me and she said well that's not right and she walked away well a couple of minutes later I was looking through the instrument and I felt something tap my shoulder and I said excuse me one moment please and then when I turned around there was a double barrel shotgun sticking in my face I said oh my, I don't think you need to do that you know what I'm looking at my notes Here I believe you're right we picked up and left and then had to get the sheriff. Good times my friend good times. Stay safe out there and may God bless.

[@jasongarling20]

They definitely have there place depending on your location. But here in the south east us, definitely useful.

[@ONThree]

Thanks for watching! Let me know what you think.

[@LetoAt77]

Great vid! What length machetes are those? Are they available on Amazon? Thanks.

[@SurvivalDispatch]

Thanks. www.machetespecialists.com/filter/brand/imacasa/

[@LetoAt77]

@@SurvivalDispatch Thank you for the link!

[@Giovanni-zc1lv]

Ordered Thanks!

[@mickroe8798]

I love the sound that cheaper ones make

[@JohnTBlock]

1. Disagree on the sheath - needed to save the edge you fought to put on it. 2. Mill bastard files are your friend - tape it on the sheath you don't have! 😆 3. A proper lanyard will keep it IN your hand - like the old Billy club thong, loops over your thumb, across the back of your hand to base of tool. It can't leave your hand until you open your grip.

[@canadafree2087]

When working is a field with other guys swinging machetes, you don't want to hear, "Opps!"

[@King-Kazma]

An easy sheath for longer machetes is a length of pvc pipe, heated with a heat gun then squashed flat. There are good examples on here. At the very least it makes it easy/safe to stow in a vehicle, but you can attach it to a backpack by drilling and bolting on some sort of retention loop.

[@Cetok01]

Jason: I totally agree with your opinion of wrist thongs/lanyards. AMHIK. I prefer using the old police-style 'billy club' grip: (1) pull the cord through the handle hole and then thread it back through so you have the ends going in opposition. (2) Put your gripping thumb (upward) through the resulting loop and support the machete so it hangs straight down (don't line the lines cross) over the BACK of your hand with the edge pointing away from your body. (3) Roll your hand downward/inward to grab the handle. (4) Snug up and knot the cord so that it isn't loose, or too tight. (I prefer a slight bit of tension.) This should give you a firm grip, but if the blade gets snagged or you want to let go, just open your hand with your thumb pointing forward and it pulls right off your hand. I find this works especially well when your hand starts to get fatigued from a lot of heavy or springy brush-cutting, and keeps it from slipping out of your grip, plus it isn't swinging back toward your body or head, as when slung around your wrist.

[@effeojnedib7208]

I have and often use Cold Steel machetes. I think around 6-7 of them now. My favorite is the Magnum Kukri. It chops brush and 1" thick branches like nothing. It came sharp, but I doctored it up some with a puck. Haven't had to sharpen it in 2 years and I use it at least once a week.

[@lukyguy1240]

I enjoy a machete because its like doing a puzzle. Very entertaining compared to other options for clearing brush. Plus, they're extremely handy and portable. I agree - no lanyard. Just a tip, a file works much quicker than any stone. If you're really working, you'll end up with nicks in the blade, etc, and with a file, you can fix that very quickly and keep on trucking.

[@CorkKNIFE]

Metal file, use a whetstone on a machete anywhere machetes area daily use tool and you'll get laugh off the area.

[@WR3ND]

That tracker holster is a nice touch. 😄

[@MacTX]

9:50 I find silicone grip tape works much better than sanding the plastic handle and gives a good firm grip to the handle

[@kan-zee]

Honestly , i've never used a machete up in Northern Canada...a Good ole timber axe, a sturdy saw and full tang knife is bout all the essentials we need. I can understand and agree with your opening statement that a Machete is a Jungle tool .... That's a darn good arm workout, swinging that back and forth , chopping , hacking a trail clearing. cheers.

[@tyler1768]

In southern BC use one all the time but is heavier and thicker then one in video and little shorter made for hardcore use

[@canadafree2087]

I've chopped 3"-4" thick trees with my Tramontina. Not a mature tree but it worked because older models are thicker than current ones.

[@rev-mikemckay9750]

After wrapping the paracord, pour boiling water on it (*saturate* if possible)...shrinks, tightens and 'hardens' the para. Lasts longer & stronger. No Goo-gone, WD40!

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

Plastic molded handles are the way to go, no wood to go brittle or loosen up. Estwing hatchets are awesome as well! BOTH

[@juliabrown5948]

Love the tractor holster, we have one of those too 😂

[@beerdrinker6452]

I have a cheap machete hanging on the garage wall. Now I have another project on my private to do list. Thanks for the common sense tips. I was thinking nails in the stump top and you did it. I was thinking goo gone and you said goo gone. Nice video.

[@macdelttorres3366]

Great to see someone enjoy a simple too so much.

[@skifskifsky3739]

Simple, cheap, cheerful. Works.

[@kenclarke4906]

I can across an old Briddell machete made in the USA. at a garage sale. The handle was rotting away but the blade was all there. It has a bulbus nose and is s bit nose heavey, so I made a handle from a framing hammer handle I had in stock from my power tool sales and service company I own. I split the handle cut it a little longer and it ballenced out quite well. Now I have a full line of tools to sharpen belt grinders and honing tools, but if I was going to sharpen by hand, Try putting the blade in your lap and move the stone. With a little practice you'll find it easier... Thank you for your video. never mind on The stone in hand thing.

[@Halligan515]

I started with a corn knife in the late 1980s cutting cane for a farmer. I've had some sort of machete or long bladed cutting tool ever since.

[@SurvivalDispatch]

Where’d you cut cane?

[@adamedwards2261]

Thanks Jason. Much appreciated brother. 👊🏻🇺🇸🔪

[@WesS2016]

Good video. Sharpen the entire front half of the blade, the dings from rocks and such can be addressed. The front half of the machete needs an edge. Especially the curved part in wispy thin material.

[@suprememagnetic4850]

Great video! A machete is essential for thick brushes!

[@JuaneDosesII-wj6dd]

Both! Now I have to get a tractor so my machete has a sheath!

[@hobofab]

I love machetes here in Florida we got some very sub tropical locations and a machete is great. I'm currently playing with a hand held billhook because I can button the heck out of it and that hook is great for pulling things to me so I can cut away.

[@imbadwrench]

Home Depot sells "PVC 4x4 POST COVERS" for about $11 you can make like 4 or 5 knife sheaths from one post.

[@unfi6798]

BTW it is also a musical instrument.

[@charlescollier7217]

You would do well here in the Caribbean. Every home here has at least 2-3 machetes hanging around somewhere.

[@andrewhondo]

i use a 12 inch tramontana for hiking in the back country in west Virginia for 20 years now to cut fire wood clearing my camp sight fine task work shelter building fishing and hunting there great them and the Ontario military machetes as well

[@jeffechols5302]

See ya on the next one

[@jwgbmp40]

Nice little tune up!

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

If it's an 18" machete, Rothco sells a thin but durable plastic sheath on Amazon, which was originally designed for the Ontario machete. Most other brands will fit in it, maybe with a little snugness here and there. For shorter lengths, just cut down the 18" sheath to the desired length. I wish Rothco made ones for 22" and up lengths. The more and more I use machetes and the older I get, the more I prefer the longer ones, even if they end up being more of a challenge to pack and carry.

[@rodneymiddleton1044]

Nice length and a few goes over a leather strop would see them so much sharper lol.

[@patkonelectric]

I would suggest using Ballistol instead of WD-40.

[@jeffstevens156]

I picked up a cheap “samurai” sword at the pawn shop for less than the cost of a machete. I spent a very long time sharpening it. I used it on the brush invading the house. Big Fail! I went back to one of the machetes around the shop. It carried out the chore like it should. It was my mistake by not using it in the first place. It has the size and shape I needed. I still ended up with poison oak, that’s the reason for the longer blade experiment, but it cut down on my exposure time.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Tramontina make the best value machetes money can buy 👍

[@user-tc2ud9fz3w]

Thank you, learned some things.

[@greenwolf401]

WD-40 will remove the adhesive from old stickers in minutes.

[@CampDweller]

Do a video on a Ontario military Machete 18” or 22”

[@sajahb7444]

Excellent tutorial

[@alanrice39]

I’m very big on using machetes, raised on the River in Appalachia, machetes are a must have tool, old school type, not those fancy expensive ones, my favorite is the USGI Ontario, I have the 12” version also, I have a machete similar to the one you are using from South American, those 22” are really good for clearing brush, thanks Jason for the machete tips, I all for learning new tricks

[@canadafree2087]

Some make sheaths by taking a heat gun to PVC pipe. Poor man's Kydex. These machetes are dull for at least two reasons: 1. They are often sold without a sheath and people make their own. 2. They sell for pennies in their home countries so the company isn't going to put any more work into it than they need to. Older Martindale machetes were very thick, older Tramontia machetes were thicker than Tramontina machetes made today. Cold Steel has fun machetes made in South Africa, I say fun as they are sword designs as machetes. I did not like their Cutlass as being too floppy, but their Smachet, Barong, and Gladius are all fun.

[@sportsmobile8328]

A machete is awesome to have with you. I picked up 2 antique wheel hoes this past weekend and what a difference they make in the garden.

[@priddle1899]

A tip for removing the sticky tag glue; use wd40, penetrating oil, cooking oil, any petroleum based lubricant and soak it for just a few minutes and it’ll wipe right off.

[@imbadwrench]

after carrying a cheap Chinesium machete for decades i bought a cheap tramontina... good god, i could have saved myself a whole years worth of labor. I could not even imagine how much effort i was wasting.

[@bobjones9727]

Check out Ontarios 18" machete. Comes fairly sharp. $27 and small change

[@twoowls4469]

I have a Vietnam era machete that i bought in the '70s at an Army Surplus store (back when nearly evry town had one). I use it year after year and use a belt sander to refresh the edge every spring. Ive tried modern "ergonomically correct" versions but nothing matches old faithful. The only downside is the bakelite handle. So i have it wrapped with paracord.

[@PsychNurse.]

Definitely better than Harbor Freight 🗡️

[@outdoorkids6062]

Awesome. Thanks

[@DavidPyro]

Heat up and flatten out a piece of PVC pipe to make a sheath.

[@lesliemiller5790]

not necessarily a sheath, but you can take an old hose and slit it lengthwise and use it to protect both the blade and the user from damage. My machete (Cold Steel Kukri) has short pieces of hose to protect the edge (and me) placed where they are touching. Ido have a sheath for it as well and the hose fits inside the sheath to make the machete snug inside it. I would pick a machete over an axe in most situations (the axe if I needed to make a LOT of firewood).

[@SurvivalDispatch]

Good idea!

[@matthewellisor5835]

7:46 Whip It!

[@elevatorman7750]

Great video

[@DeeMoback]

Just grind a lawnmower blade.....geeez

[@jeffslaven]

Nice video Jason! I would love to see your take on tomahawks. I have a CRKT Woods Chogan that works great in between an axe and a hatchet.

[@squirrellysquirrels1167]

Can't say I've ever sharpened like that before. Columbia makes some good blades. Wood non slip and curved in a way, last 10 inches of the total 28 are super thin. The standard shape like shown, I personally avoid

[@jocarroll2669]

The 1 that I have seen done Is hockey tape put on Handel Even if gets wet You're not gonna Lose your grip on it In hockey tables 1 of the most durable tapes out there And you can get it camouflage

[@johnruckman2320]

I have 2 of the long blade machetes and one shorter machete blade. Not sure what the short one was used for. Another sharpening method I heard about was the back 6" was sharpened like a carving blade at one angle, the middle portion was sharpened for chopping and the tip was left alone for grubbing in the soil. Apparently the Asians and others use it for digging roots and such.

[@richardhenry1969]

Personally I like the Ontario 13inch machete or the coldsteel 13inch tanto machete. I really want a Martindale golock they just seem hard to get lately. I sharpen my machetes with sanding belts. Tie a string through one end then mount it. Using the belt puts a very nice convex edge. Plus it’s easy to pack. Don’t get me wrong I use a belt grinder to put the working edge on. I then use the belt to fix it. But it will work to put a edge on just takes time. Also the esee guys have another way with sandpaper and a 2x4. They have a video on it.

[@dlighted8861]

How about doing a video on short machetes like the Cammilus or Gerber? I have both.🤗 The blades are about two feet long.

[@improvisedsurvival5967]

Bought a 5 pack of Colombian On sportsman’s guide for $30 like em

[@jacobkonkel6793]

I too hate weed eating and I live downtown in my small city. I'm bringing rural into the urban to keep taxes low.

[@richardhenry1969]

Could lose a toe with those things you have on your feet. Not to mention in the south beating brush like that with sandals is just asking for a snake bite. Everyone I’ve ever seen bite someone was because they stepped on it in thick brush. But those guys had jeans and leather boots.

[@BlackthornBushcraft]

I bought an 18" imacasa Latin style for yard work, it was less that £15 with postage but took some work before useable. My 14" bolo tramontina took less work, but I save that for bushcraft.

[@user-bh3ew6ii4g]

I love how you walk up to the chopping block and pull out the machete and the chicken poking around behind you high tails it out of there. WD-40 will get that label gunk off quickly. I use that first. Let it sit a few minutes then I take a single edge razor blade, I like the paint scrapers with the small plastic handle. Scrapes that gunk right off. The I wipe with a paper cloth or towel. I hate when put labels directly onto things that don't come off easily without leaving a trace. It's really rude to the consumer in my book.

[@jgz6989]

I wish some of American knife manufacturers would setup factories in South America. I'm so tired of seeing the same Chinese steel on all the more affordable knives. I used alot of Machetes(Brazil, El Salvador, Columbia) for land maintenance and they will last forever.

[@jocarroll2669]

If you use dawn dish soap On the glue residue You won't remove the coding What is the coding on a machete blade

[@joshuahall1949]

where did you purchase that long machete from? I'm having a difficult time finding one.

[@earlmcknight3580]

For once somebody knows their way around a machete.For most all homested and surveyors who cut everyday in southern regions the 24 inch latin back is the way to go.Unfortunately the machete makers are questionable with their heat treat.Yes for convex edge,about an .080 blade thickness for flex ,a finger stop at the back of the handle.A good test for heat treatment is if it rings and pings when cutting brush especially briar vines or slapping it against a limb sideways.Much of the china made ones are not that good.Anything under 24 inch length in the woods is causing too much work for the end result.I use a machete constantly and the proper one will amaze at the work produced but to a novice it feels awkward to use.Been using Collins machetes for 40 yrs now..Most of the time the handles get loose after a hard use.

[@jeffstevens156]

How many do You go through in a season?

[@badgirlclub4712]

I hate weed eating too. My weeds are 90% way too thick for a weed eater anyway.

[@donwaldroopoutdoors3665]

It’s biblical , iron sharpens iron that is

[@SirNomad]

You don't know how to use a machete lanyard. If you have it at the right length, it goes across your hand and can give you better leverage, and won't swing like that. That's what the folks who live in the jungles do. ;-)

[@charlessalmond7076]

Algorithm comment

[@Agent_Lemur]

Have you tried a loose grip where you hold it by the tab at the grip base? Soloproject99 does bunch of machete reviews while doing surveying work and he describes the loose grip.